Abstract: A method for produces a video data stream for an expansion signal, wherein a base signal represents a first video quality degree and the expansion and base signals jointly represent a second video quality. Only second syntax elements of the expansion signal which are not describable by the first syntax element of the base signal are taken into account during encoding, the coding mode of a video encoding method which is encodable by all syntax elements is selected by means of statistical method, said second syntax elements are not representable by one or several first syntax elements and the method brings about to the production of the shortest video data stream for said second syntax elements. A decoding method for restoring the expansion signal from the video data stream, encoding and coding devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: Files which are available for dissemination in a controlled peer-to-peer network are provided with a watermark comprising a large number of watermark elements. Upon download, the composition of the parts of the file which are obtained from a plurality of source stations provides a new watermark which can clearly be associated with the target station. By storing information about forwarded watermark elements of a network server, it is possible to reconstruct for each file the network station from which this file originates.

Abstract: An encoding method and device are provided for a series of data packets transmitted in the framework of a combined streaming and downloading application by a two-stage error protection process and only one unidirectional transmission channel. A partial block of successive data packets is protected against some transmission errors occurring during streaming with the aid of a first error protection process while all data packets are protected against the transmission errors that can remain after streaming is completed with the aid of a second error protection process. In a decoding process, a series of data packets that are encoded according to the encoding are decoded.

Abstract: In a method and a device for determining an image quality of an image sequence comprising several images, the images are reconstructed from a data stream encoded by a predictive encoding process, and a respective flicker indicator is determined for an image range of the respective images of the image sequence, wherein the respective flicker indicator displays by two states whether flickering occurs or not in the image range of the respective image, an overall flicker indicator being generated such that the overall flicker indicator corresponds to that number of flicker indicators which display flickering, and the image quality being generated by division of the overall flicker indicator by a number of specific flicker indicators.

Abstract: Pixels with associated pixel values form a sequence of digitized images that are encoded by predicting pixels of the images and encoding the prediction errors. At least a part of the pixels are encoded by determining trajectories, each running through a pixel to be encoded and through other previously encoded pixels from the image of the pixel being encoded and/or from one or more images that are temporally proximate to that image. For each of the trajectories determined, a valuation parameter is in inverse proportion to the deviations in the uncoded associated pixel values of the other pixels along a trajectory. A predicted pixel value of the pixel to be encoded is determined based on the other pixels of the trajectory with the highest valuation.

Abstract: An encoded, digital video input signal having a base signal and at least one differential extension signal is transcoded by determining a first piece of page data and a first piece of transform coefficient data from the base signal; determining one respective second piece of page data and one respective piece of transform coefficient data from the base signal; and determining one respective second piece of page data and one respective piece of transform coefficient data from at least one differential extension signal. A third piece of page data is generated from the first and at least one second piece of page data, and a third piece of transform coefficient data is generated from the first and at least one second piece of transform coefficient data using a weighted addition. An encoded, digital video output signal is generated from the third pieces of page data and transform coefficient data.

Abstract: A method determines a predicted image area for an image area, in which a temporal predictor for the image area is determined based on a reconstructed image that precedes said image, a local predictor for the image area is determined within a reconstructed image area of the image, a margin of error between the image area and the image area predicted image area is determined by the local predictor using the reconstructed image area and by the temporal predictor using one of the preceding images. A predicted image area can be reconstructed. Also disclosed are an establishing device for carrying out the method for determining a predicted image area as well as a reconstructing device for carrying out the reconstruction method.

Abstract: A series of decoded images is generated from a series of original images encoded by a first encoding technique following movement-compensated, predictive encoding, where a starting image of a group of successive original images that are to be encoded is defined by a second encoding technique following movement-compensated, temporally filtered partial band encoding based on a determined encoding property of a decoded image of the group of images that are to be encoded, the decoded image is used for generating an output image having a low resolution level, before the images are encoded. At least one output image is generated on each level of resolution from the successive original images of the group of from at least one decoded image during image encoding. The decoded images are provided only with a reduced quality while the reconstituted images are of great quality.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image encoding method in which a series of decoded images are generated from a series of original images with the aid of a first encoding process. Furthermore, a series of second images are generated from an image group of the series of original images with the aid of an INTER encoding mode of the second encoding process, at least one decoded image being used as a reference image. The reference image represents an original image area is to be encoded. A image decoding method decodes second images generated by the image encoding method.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices for compressing and decompressing video data streams, according to which the statistical relationship between image symbols and the context assigned thereto is used for compression. Particularly disclosed is a context-sensitive encoding unit in which the image symbols filed in an image storage are assigned to different encoding branches via a context switch, where they are encoded and compressed by a Golomb encoder and a run length encoder.

Abstract: Groups of pictures are formed, each group including successive pictures in an original chronological order which is coded by forming a prediction structure with at least one picture as an intra-frame, each being intra-coded, while other pictures in the group are inter-frames, each predicted from and inter-coded in relation to at least one reference frame. The prediction structure is designed such that each intra-frame is a reference frame from which at least one picture of a picture group that precedes the intra-frame as well as the least one picture of the group of pictures that succeeds the intra-frame are predicted. The inter-frames include several non-references pictures from which no pictures of the sequence are predicted. A transmission sequence having a chronological transmission order is formed from the coded pictures of the group of pictures, at least some of the coded non-referenced pictures being the first pictures of the transmission order.

Abstract: Pixels with associated pixel values form a sequence of digitized images that are encoded by predicting pixels of the images and encoding the prediction errors. At least a part of the pixels are encoded by determining trajectories, each running through a pixel to be encoded and through other previously encoded pixels from the image of the pixel being encoded and/or from one or more images that are temporally proximate to that image. For each of the trajectories determined, a valuation parameter is in inverse proportion to the deviations in the uncoded associated pixel values of the other pixels along a trajectory. A predicted pixel value of the pixel to be encoded is determined based on the other pixels of the trajectory with the highest valuation.

Abstract: An encoding method and device are provided for a series of data packets transmitted in the framework of a combined streaming and downloading application by a two-stage error protection process and only one unidirectional transmission channel. A partial block of successive data packets is protected against some transmission errors occurring during streaming with the aid of a first error protection process while all data packets are protected against the transmission errors that can remain after streaming is completed with the aid of a second error protection process. In a decoding process, a series of data packets that are encoded according to the encoding are decoded.

Abstract: A determination of indexes allocated to error correcting symbols is provided. Encoded code symbols are generated by means of a generator matrix of a block code from number of source symbols and the encoded transmission errors occur in the received code symbols, the indexes of the error correcting symbols are determined by unambiguously identifying the area of the encoded code symbols by means of first and second parameters, which can be requested in the form of at least one error correcting symbol by the receiving device from the transmitting device for reconstructing the source symbols in an error-free manner.

Abstract: A method is provided for encoding and decoding a sequence of digital data, according to which a portion of the sequence of digital data corresponds to a data block that includes several data packets, at least two data packets per data block containing an identifier. The position of the data packet within the corresponding data block can be determined based on the identifier, and the data is encoded or decoded by taking into account the identifier.

Abstract: A method is provided for encoding and decoding a sequence of digital data, according to which a portion of the sequence of digital data corresponds to a data block that includes several data packets, at least two data packets per data block containing an identifier. The position of the data packet within the corresponding data block can be determined based on the identifier, and the data is encoded or decoded by taking into account the identifier.

Abstract: In a method and a device for determining an image quality of an image sequence comprising several images, the images are reconstructed from a data stream encoded by a predictive encoding process, and a respective flicker indicator is determined for an image range of the respective images of the image sequence, wherein the respective flicker indicator displays by two states whether flickering occurs or not in the image range of the respective image, an overall flicker indicator being generated such that the overall flicker indicator corresponds to that number of flicker indicators which display flickering, and the image quality being generated by division of the overall flicker indicator by a number of specific flicker indicators.

Abstract: A coding method codes a sequence of digitized images with a plurality of macro blocks in error-prone networks in which case the macro blocks in a section of the image are coded in a first intra-coding mode depending on predetermined criteria. In addition, the macro blocks in a section of the image are coded in a second intra-coding mode or in an inter-coding mode in which case in the inter-coding mode for the macro blocks, movement vectors are selected from the number of accessible reference images. The selection from the number of accessible reference images is limited in such a way that referencing takes place from image areas that were not subjected to the first intra-coding mode at a later stage.

Abstract: A determination of indexes allocated to error correcting symbols is provided. Encoded code symbols are generated by means of a generator matrix of a block code from number of source symbols and the encoded transmission errors occur in the received code symbols, the indexes of the error correcting symbols are determined by unambiguously identifying the area of the encoded code symbols by means of first and second parameters, which can be requested in the form of at least one error correcting symbol by the receiving device from the transmitting device for reconstructing the source symbols in an error-free manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for transmitting digital information packets in a data network from an emitter to a receiver, the information packets being transported by means of a transport layer.